Almost first in, baby pair

[Bad Lobster]

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20/40 game at the Lobster's favorite undersea grotto. UTG+1 is a regular who's been playing every single hand this session, even though he must know better. BB appears to be new to hold'em and keeps asking questions about the rules. Overvalues his high card hands. No info on SB.

Hero on button picks up 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, folds to hero.

Hero's play: ?

Normally I'd say an easy raise, but what if I'm virtually guaranteed 2 callers who could have anything?

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Don't raise. The BB will probably call based on your description of him and you will have a very difficult hand to play.


If you don't advertise strength you will be in a good position if you make a set with some high cards. You could have position with people betting into you. Lots of good options.

Don't invest more than you have to in a multi-way pot with a small pocket pair when you won't even have good set odds.

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The reason I thought this hand was interesting enough to post is that the situation was so unfavorable that I seriously considered folding it, which would be pretty unusual. Not enough set value, no fold equity, and little showdown value. Negative implied odds as these guys aren't so passive as to let me check all the way to the river.

Does anyone else think this is a situation where the pair just isn't a money maker?